It was a heroic effort by Exiles, who played the last half an hour a man short after scrum-half Tomas O'Leary was sent off for raking a boot over James Haskell's head at a ruck.

Irish made the perfect start when starting fly-half Ian Humphreys pounced to score after a clearance by Elliot Daly had been charged down by Nic Rouse.

Hooker David Paice was then driven over for the second try of the game, and with James O'Connor slotting over a penalty in between his two conversions, Irish had carved out a 17-3 lead midway through the first half.